THE PETROL DEAL

Evening Star, Issue 16086, 11 April 1916, Page 6

THE PETROL DEAL

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, April 10. Mr Justice Pring continued his sitting ns a Itoyal Commission to inquire into .ille.infious affecting tho character of Mr Griffiths, a member of tho Ministry, in tho negotiations for the establishment of a monopoly of tho petrol trade by tho State of New South Wales. Mr Black, Sydney manager of the British Imperial Oil Company, cross-examined, admitted that ho did not want tho nationalisation scheme to go through. Mr Hoylo (Minister of Railways), in the cortrso of his examination, declared that, whatever Ministers did nowadays, there always seemed to be a shadow cast upon them. There was always a talk of somebody getting 1 " backsheesh " or " boodle." The whole thing was idle talk by interested persons. Ha had no suspicions against and knew of no Minister or member of Parliament receiving anything. Tho money had never been coined that would buy Mr Holman. Mr Reed, Government Superintendent of Stores, examined, said he suggested that the- whole business be passed into Mr Morgan's hands, because ho believed hhn to be a smart commercial man, possessing full knowledge of tho oil industry. Witness detailed the negotiations between himself and Mr Morgan and tho Sydney and Melbourne managers of the British Impsrial Oil Company. He denied various statements covered by evidence and documents produced by these managers, including those referring to brokerage and payment to Ministers and members of Parliament. He added i "When the question of Mr Morgan's remuneration was discussed a Minister remarked ' This man will want brokerage.' Witness replied ' I do not expect he will work for nothing.' That was all that passed." In reply to a question witness said ho understood that Sir Morgan would remunerate himself.